GREENER BOROUGH
@eastleighbc
Air pollution monitoring team win Defra funding The Council has won government funding for an innovative system to monitor air quality in the Borough. The award of £58,750, from Defra’s Air Quality Grant, is paying for 25 mobile air quality and traffic monitors as part of a targeted programme. Over the past 18 months, we have been trialling smart monitors developed by a local manufacturer, Iknaia which can detect levels of pollution on Eastleigh’s streets in real time. The equipment is easy to move around the Borough and will complement static monitoring stations already in place. Cabinet Lead for the Environment, Cllr Rupert Kyrle, said: “The quality of the air we breathe is one of the most important environmental factors impacting health and we are very pleased to have won this funding. The data gathered by the new monitors will provide valuable insight into traffic congestion and associated pollution and will help us raise awareness of how residents and business can also do their bit to cut emissions.”
Find out more: eastleigh.gov.uk/airquality
News round up Hedge End, West End & Botley
A better boardwalk for Berrywood
Eastleigh’s litter heroes spring into action Groups of volunteers helped to clear up the Borough as part of the Great British Spring Clean Armed with litter pickers and bin bags provided by the Council, groups of residents in Hamble, West End, Hedge End, Eastleigh and Boyatt Wood took part in the national campaign to tidy the streets of Britain. During the month-long campaign that ran from March to April residents collected bag upon bag of rubbish. Litter spoils our environment and causes harm to wildlife - both on land and when it makes its way into the ocean. It also costs the Council tax payers money to clear away and is completely avoidable if people use public bins or take their rubbish home with them. Philip Rawlinson, whose group the Hamble Conservation Volunteers took part in the
Spring Clean, said: “We were really keen to contribute to the Great British Spring Clean. Our group carries out regular beach cleans throughout the year and we thought it would be a great idea to tackle litter in our local area as part of the campaign. Everyone really enjoyed it and we are looking forward to taking part again next year.” Cabinet Lead for the Environment, Cllr Rupert Kyrle, said: “The work these volunteers have done is fantastic. We all have a part to play in keeping our streets tidy and free of litter but these volunteers have gone above and beyond to make their area a better place to live.” If you think the Council could support your volunteer group, please email our Street Scene team at streetscene@eastleigh.gov.uk.
Six ways to cleaner air To celebrate Clean Air Day (20 June) we’re sharing our top tips to help you reduce air pollution and your exposure to it. Leave your car at home - Walking, cycling or using a bus or train instead helps lower the amount of pollution in the air and your exposure to it! Give your car a break - Working from home, swapping face-to-face meetings for video calls and using car sharing schemes are all easy ways to cut car use. Avoid unnecessary exposure - Walking or cycling down quieter side
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streets can lower your exposure to air pollution by 20%. Drive efficiently - Keep tyres inflated at the right pressure and regularly service your car so it runs efficiently and cleanly. If you’re sat in traffic, turn off your engine. Use less polluting products at home Chemicals in everyday household products called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major contributor to air pollution.
Open your windows when using cleaning products. Buy paint labelled as containing low VOCs and minimise your use of air fresheners, candles and incense. Burn less wood If you have garden waste to dispose of, rather than putting it on a bonfire, why not join the Council’s Garden Waste Scheme. Save your wood-burning stove for when you really need it, make sure it’s Defra-approved and only use authorised fuel.
Find out more about what you can do at eastleigh.gov.uk/airquality
Improvements to Berrywood Meadows in Hedge End continue with the installation of a new boardwalk. The walking and cycling route leading from Locke Road to Billington Gardens is popular with local residents and it is set to become the walk-to-school route for the new Deer Park School. The existing boardwalk needs constant repair, so it will be replaced by a new one made of a non-slip composite material that won’t split or rot. The Hedge End, West End & Botley Local Area Committee has allocated more than £5,000 in developer’s contributions to the scheme. Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury
Pond revived by school The pond at Hiltingbury Junior School has been brought back to life, creating an invaluable conservation and wildlife teaching aid for the children. Under the direction of the school gardener, Chris Chanter, with project management by Martyn Shears from the RSPB, and pond advice from ecologist, Phil Budd, the facility is now ready for the children to use. The school is especially grateful to the many volunteers and staff who assisted with the project and to the Parish Council for providing the grant which enabled the scheme to proceed. Chandler’s Ford & Hiltingbury
Transforming Hiltingbury Lakes With £250,000 of Council funding to implement a restoration project at Hiltingbury Lakes, work is under way to improve water flows, remove non-native vegetation and bring in improvements to footpaths and signage. Measures are also being introduced to discourage rats and other vermin by removing their habitats.
